Spark plug cleaning machine



Nov. 29, 1955 HUFFMAN 2,725,063

SPARK PLUG CLEANING MACHINE Filed Jan. 25, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet l Delmar E. Huffman INVENTOR.

BY Wynn; 5%

Fig. 4

Nov. 29, 1955 D. E. HUFFMAN 2,725,063

SPARK PLUG CLEANING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 HMH In. NIH

Mn... Nil

Delmar E. Huffman IN VEN TOR.

BY Wyn; 3M

1955 D. E. HUFFMAN 2,725,063

SPARK PLUG CLEANING MACHINE Filed Jan. 26, 1954 4 sh t -s t 3 Delmar E.- Huffman IN V EN TOR.

Nov. 29, 1955 D. E. HUFFMAN SPARK PLUG CLEANING MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 26, 1954 Delmar E. Huffman INVEN TOR.

I BY mq,

United ates Patent SPARK PLUG CLEANING MACHINE Delmar E. Huffman, Oakland, Calif., assignor of twentyfive per centv to JackC. Stone, CastroValley, Calif.

Application January 26, 1954, Serial No. 406,150

7 Claims. (Cl. 134-142) This invention relates generally to sparkplugcleaning ferentially spaced spindles thereon, each provided'iwith a driving wheel and each'being adapted to 'receiveaspark plug, drive means being associated with some-of the driving wheels and means being provided for selectively holding the turntable against rotation whereby the engaged driving wheels will rotate their respective. spindles-when the turntable is held against rotation and wherein the driving means will effect rotation of the turntableawhenzthe same is not held against rotation.

Another object of this invention isto provide. a spark plug cleaning machine in conformitywith theforegoing object wherein the turntable-is mountedona standard which includes a housing assembly provided withnozzleassemblies therein, the housing providingtreservoirs for the reception of cleaning liquid and the-nozzles beingconnected to a source of air under pressure connected through Venturimeans to the cleaningliquidin the troughs for directing the cleaning liquid onto associated spark plugs.

Another object of thisinvention. is to providezacspark plug cleaning machine in conformity withtherforegoing objects wherein the housing is effectivelysealed against leakage and splashingand wherein the entireassembly presents a compact and convenient unit readilyradapted for the purpose intended.

These together with other objects'and advantageszwhich will become subsequently apparent-resideain: the details of construction and operation as more tfullyxhereinafter described and claimed, reference:beinghadzto the accompanyingldrawings forming a parthereof, whereinilike numerals refer to like parts throughout, andrinwhich:

Figure 1 is an elevationalzview of the machine;

Figure 2 is a vertical section-taken substantiallyalong the plane of section line 22 in-Figure. 1;

Figure 3 is a vertical section through the 'machine looking toward the front;

Figure 4 is an enlarged horizontal section -taken,substantially along the plane of section line ;-4-Y4:;in-Fig= ure 3;

Figure 5 is an enlarged'sectional view-takensubstantially along the plane of section line 55 in -Figure-3;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing the other of the nozzle assemblies;

Figure 7 is a plan view of a peripheral portion'of the turntable assembly;

Figure 8 is a plan view of a portion of the periphery of the turntable; and

Figure 9 is a perspective view of ;one of the latching members.

Referring now more particularly to Figures 2 and 3, the

ice

machine is seen to consist essentially of a standard"or housing indicated generally by the reference character 10 and 'which includes a front wall 12-; arear wall 14,a top wall -16 and abottomwalllS. The housing also includes the side, walls' 20" and an intermediate partition wall 22 parallelto the side wallsand extending between the front and rear-.walls. Also -:extendingbetween :-the front'and rear wallsxisa bearing tube 24 into which a pair-of spaced bearing members 26 and 28. are received for journaling thevaxle member 30 in the manner shown. The axle member projects through the front wallll' and has secured thereto the turntable member 32 f such that the turntable mayrotate with respect to' the housing;

Asseen most clearly: in Figures 1, 2' and 5,"the turntable 32 is provided with a series ofcircumferenti'ally- Since the inner=orenlarged ends of the spindle project throughthe front Wall 12, to permitrotation of the-turn-- table 32, the front-Wallis provided with an annular slot For-effectively. Sealing-this annular'slot, the spindles 'carry'an-annular sealing plate member46 whoseoppositeedges .are arcu-- ately deformed, as at'48, forengagingwith circular bead These beads are preferably formed of rubber or similarmaterial-to'eifectively seal with the opposite edges of the sealing plate-46.

44-in registry with the various spindles.

members 50:1secured to the front wall.

To effe'ctsrotation of the turntable 32, the-front'wall 12 is provided with a base member 52upon'which a suitable motor assembly 54is mounted .and which includes a drive shaft' 56s having a drive sprocket 58 thereon engaging with anendless flexible drive element--60 Which is trained about theseveral idler members 62 journaledon the frontwall 12. The various idler wheels or sprockets 62 are so 'positioned on the front wall'that the endlessdrive element-60 simultaneouslyengagesseveral of the driving wheel assem blies 38': previously described. It will be manifest that as the 'motor-assembly '54 turns the'drive sprocket 58, the endless drive element 60, shown in this case-to beachain," will effect rotation ofthe individual spindles and 'will also effect over-all rotation ofthe turntable'assembly 32.

As seen most clearly in Figures 7-9; portions ofthe periphery-ofthe turntable 32 are provided with serrations- 64 zfor :cooperation with the latching members'66 whose arcuate inner surfaces are serrated, as at 68, for engage ment with the serrations on the periphery'of the turntable. These-latching members comprise opposite leg portions 70 -and -72"each provided with an elongated opening 74; a transverse-radial groove 76 being provided 'at the junc ture of-thelegs.

due to the elongation of the openings 74, the positioning of the-latching assemblies 76 'circumferentially of the.

turntable may be adjusted, the purpose of this adjustment being presently apparent.

As previously stated, the partition wall 22 extends intermediate the side walls 20= such as. to divide the interior of the housing into'two separate compartments.v

In each of thecompartments, the bottom wall'18is depressed to formthe troughs 80 and 82 for the reception of the cleaning liquid 84. The front'wall '12 is provided Fastening elements 78 extend through the elongated openings 74 into engagement-with the' periphery of the turntable 32, and it will be manifest that with a U-shaped bracket member 86 within each of the compartments, the bracket being disposed in straddling relation to the sealing plate 46 and consequently, the various spark plugs 42 carried by the turntable. As seen most clearly in Figures and 6, the brackets are for the purpose of supporting the various nozzle members 88, 90 and 92, the latter two nozzles being fan-shaped as shown and provided with the series of spaced discharge openings, the nozzles 92 being positioned to spray cleaning fiuid on the upper ends of the spark plugs 42 while the other fan-shaped nozzle 90 is adapted to clean the threaded base ends thereof. The central nozzles 88 are provided with single discharge openings and are disposed slightly at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the spark plugs and are adapted to direct the cleaning fluid on the electrodes thereof. Thus, substantially the entire spark plug assembly is cleaned by the various nozzle assemblies 8892. All of the various nozzle assemblies 83, 90 and 92 are directly connected together through suitable lines and are further connected to a line 94 extending from a suitable source of compressed air. Pick-up lines 96 are connected to the throat of a Venturi means in the inlet line 94 with the lower ends of the pick-up lines 96 being disposed within the liquid in the various troughs 8i and 82, such that as air under pressure is introduced through the lines 94, the cleaning fluid will be picked up and distributed to the various nozzles 88, 90 and 92 for discharge onto the spark plug assemblies.

To properly position the turntable 32 such that the spark plugs will be properly positioned for cleaning operation by the nozzle assemblies, the series of latching members 66 are provided. In setting up the machine, the various latching members 66 are so positioned on the periphery of the turntable 32 that their individual positions will correspond to the proper location of the various spark plug assemblies carried thereby. The purpose of these latching members 66 is to hold the turntable 32 in position against rotation for sequentially disposing the spark plugs for operation by the spray nozzle assemblies. In this respect, reference is had now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2 wherein it will be seen that the upper portion of the front wall 12 is provided with an electromagnet assembly 98 having a movable core element or plunger 1% whose lower end is adapted to be engaged within the various notches 76 of the latching members 66. In this respect, it will be noted that the plunger lllltl is urged normally by the spring Hi2 into the latching position. The latching engagement of the plunger 1% with the various latching members 66 is under control of the operator of the machine by virtue of the provision of the switch assembly 304 which, when depressed, will effect energization of the electromagnetic assembly 98 and retraction of the plunger ltltl so that the turntable 32 will be permitted to rotate, release of the switch 104 permitting engagement of the plunger 1% with the next latching member as on the periphery of the turntable so that the turntable will then be held in the next position for the progressive and sequential cleaning operation of the various spark plug assemblies.

It will be noted that the turntable 32. extends upwardly or above the top wall 16 so that some of the spark plugs or spindles carried by the turntable are always exposed. The top wall is notched, as at 1%, in registry with the annular slot 44 in the front wall 12 to permit passage of the spark plugs 42 therethrough. To effectively seal these notches 106, a pair of sealing strips 111 8 are secured to the opposite side edges of the notch with their inner beveled ends overlapping in the manner shown. In this respect, it will be noted that the partition wall 22 is also provided with a notch and associated sealing strips for passage of the spark plug therethrough.

As the machine is operated, the operator will remove the spark plugs which have had their cleaning operations completed, and will place new spark plugs to be cleaned in the machine. Although the direction of rotation as shown in the drawings is intended to be counter-clockwise as viewed in Figure 3, it willbe manifest that the direction of rotation is a matter of choice. It is also to be understood that the cleaning fluid 84 may be heated to more effectively clean the spark plugs and also to permit more rapid drying thereof, it also being within the province of this invention to provide suitable compressed air nozzles for blowing the cleaning fluid from the spark plugs after the wet cleaning operation. it is also within the province of this invention to provide a timing device for the manual switch 184 such that the cleaning operation will be effected in an entirely automatic manner.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed to be unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A spark plug cleaning machine comprising a standard, a turntable rotatably mounted on said standard, a series of circumferentially spaced hearings on said turntable, a spindle journaled in each of said bearings, each spindle having a recess at one end for receiving a spark plug, drive means mounted on said standard and in engagement with some of said spindles to simultaneously effect a rotation producing force on both the spindles and the turntable, and means for selectively braking said turntable whereby the turntable may be held in fixed position while those spindles engaged by the drive means are rotated.

2. A spark plug cleaning machine comprising a standard, a turntablerotatably mounted on said standard, a series of circumferentiallyv spaced spindles journaled in said standard, each spindle having a driving wheel secured at one end and being provided with a recess at its other end for receiving a spark plug, drive means including an endless flexible member operatively engaged with some of the driving wheels on said turntable, means for selectively holding said turntable in fixed position, said standard including a housing, a plurality of nozzles within said housing for sequentially directing fluid under pressure on spark plugs carried by said turntable.

3. In a spark plug cleaning machine, a housing having a front wall, a turntable journaled in said housing and disposed in spaced parallel relation to said front Wall, a series of circumferentially spaced spindles on said turntable, each provided with a spark plug receiving recess, said front wall having an annular slot in registry with said recesses, and an annular seal plate secured to said spindles with its inner and outer edges overlapping said front wall on opposite sides of the annular slot.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said housing also includes a top wall, said top wall having spaced notches extending rearwardly from the annular slot in said front wall, and sealing strips extending inwardly from opposite sides of the notches, said sealing strips having their adjacent edges disposed in overlapping relation.

5. A spark plug cleaning machine comprising a standard, a turntable rotatably mounted on said standard, a series of circumferentially spaced spindles journaled in said standard, each spindle having a driving wheel secured at one end and being provided with a recess at its other end for receiving a spark plug, drive means including an endless flexible member operatively engaged with some of the driving wheels on said turntable, means for selectively holding said turntable in fixed position, the last named means including a retractable plunger on said standard and a series of circumferentially spaced latching members carried by said turntables sequentially cngageable by said plunger.

6. A spark plug cleaning machine comprising a stand ard, a turntable rotatably mounted on said standard, a series of circumferentially spaced spindles journaled in said standard, each spindle having a driving Wheel secured at one end and being provided with a recess at its other end for receiving a spark plug, drive means including an endless flexible member operatively engaged with some of the driving Wheels on said turntable, means for selectively holding said turntable in fixed position, the last named means including a retractable plunger on said standard and a series of circumferentially spaced latching members carried by said turntables sequentially engageable by said plunger, said turntable being peripherally serrated and said latching members having teeth engaging the periphery of the turntable.

7. A spark plug cleaning machine comprising a standard, a turntable rotatably mounted on said standard, a plurality of circumferentially spaced spindles journaled in said turntable and projecting on opposite sides thereof, means for securing a spark to each spindle on one side of said turntable, a roller secured to each spindle on the opposite side of said table, a drive wheel mounted on said standard, a plurality of idler wheels mounted on said standard, an endless flexible element trained about said drive and idler wheels and having the outer side of one flight thereof engaged with some of the spindle rollers, whereby movement of the flexible member will impart a rotation producing force to both the turntable and those spindle rollers engaged by the flexible element, means for selectively braking the turntable such as to prevent rotation of the turntable while those spindles having their rollers engaged by the flexible element will be rotated.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,653,495 Cereghino Dec. 20, 1927 2,376,540 Iden May 22, 1945 2,409,341 Borg Oct. 15, 1946 

